Revolutionary Lyuben Karavelov

Lyuben Stoychov Karavelov was a Bulgarian poet, writer, encyclopaedist, journalist, ethnographer and national hero, an active fighter for Bulgaria's liberation from Ottoman rule. He was the elder brother of the influential post-Liberation politician Petko Karavelov (1843–1903).

Karavelov played a substantial role in the development of public thought in Bulgaria during the National Revival. He wrote bibliographical works and articles on Bulgarian literature, culture, lexicography, political history and numismatics. In the early 1870s, Karavelov participated in the national revolutionary movement as a member and chairman of the Bulgarian Revolutionary Central Committee (BRCC) in Bucharest, Romania.

In May 1869 he settled in Bucharest and became editor of the newspaper "Otechestvo" (Fatherland), but a conflict with wealthy Bulgarian merchants who supported a Russian protectorate prompted him to withdraw. He founded the newspaper "Svoboda" (Freedom) in 1869 and later, in 1873, became chairman of the BRCC.

In 1873, after his rupture with Hristo Botev, Karavelov ceased publishing "Svoboda" and began publishing the magazine "Znanie" (Knowledge), popular science books and collections. During this period he maintained close ties with the Russian revolutionary emigrant community and became involved in the activities of the "South Slavic Educational Charitable Committee". He also worked as an interpreter at the Russian army's headquarters during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878.

In the final years of his life, from 1876 to 1879, Karavelov worked on preparing the Kresna-Razlog Uprising, which broke out on 5 October 1878. During this period he participated in establishing the "Edinstvo" (Unity) committee, which supported the revolutionary movement of the Bulgarians in Macedonia. Karavelov died of tuberculosis on 21 January 1879 and was given a solemn funeral attended by members of the Bulgarian public, representatives of the Russian authorities and other Slavic peoples.